How does Simon Harris’s reset, reconnection and renewal sit with those on the way out and way up?
THE new Fine Gael leader and incoming taoiseach Simon Harris has told his party he will usher in a period of reset, renewal and reconnection, with what he called a ‘new-look Fine Gael’, writes AISLING MOLONEY. With 12 TDs – and counting – or a third of the parliamentary party stepping down, Fine Gael has an uphill battle to retain those seats as they stagnate at around 20% in polls. Here we speak to one of the departures, one of those who are coming into their own and one of the party’s up-and-coming politicians...
Who was Brendan Griffin when you entered politics and who is Brendan Griffin leaving politics?
I think I’m more or less the same person, albeit probably thicker skinned now. I’d say I’m better at coping with the pressures now and able to get into solution mode quicker – that might be something that comes with experience. Fatherhood came along in the meantime too and that changes your perspective on a whole range of things.
Describe your party’s past 13 years in power...
It’s been 13 years of highs and lows but I don’t look at the time as one entire block. In my mind there was the 2011-to-2017 era under Enda Kenny as one block, then the 2017-to-2020 period when Leo came in, and then there’s 2020 to present, covering Covid, the new Government and the new transition. We’ve helped to achieve a lot for the country as a party, we’ve made some mistakes, we’ve lost some great people and we’ve had some great new people come on board. I remember Michael Noonan advising the new Parliamentary Party in 2011 to ‘hold on tight – it’s going to be a rollercoaster’. He was spot on!
What has been your highest moment as a serving TD?
I think helping to ensure projects such as the Kerry Greenways and the new Cork to Kerry road were real high points, along with lots of other projects nationwide during my time in the Department of Tourism and Sport. But every day, you get a high from helping people with ordinary constituency work. Those issues are often the most pressing for the person you’re helping and it’s great when you can get a positive result.
What was your lowest moment? Those first few years from 2011 until about 2015 were bleak. High unemployment, budget cuts, no money for any projects. The loss of Jimmy Deenihan’s seat in Kerry in 2016 was also a bad one – he certainly was a TD and minister who never stopped working and didn’t deserve to lose his seat. Then, as a TD, you have the day-to-day low points when you don’t get a positive result for someone in your constituency. You never want to let anyone down but it happens at times.
Are you sad to leave the party at a time when renewal is on the cards?
Yes. Any new chapter brings excitement and I hope to have a few months of the new era at least. After that, I’ll miss lots of things about politics and being in the parliamentary party in particular, but hopefully I’ll still be able to help out in my own way.
What was the biggest lesson you learned in the Dáil?
Be yourself, don’t take yourself too seriously and keep asking questions.
It’s been 14 months since you announced you would not contest the next election, what would change your mind on bowing out?
Nothing as far as I can see. I’m very content with my decision and looking forward to a more normal life where I won’t have to be in Dublin half the week. I’m excited about doing something new.
Your former government colleague Shane Ross said you would have made a superb Minister for Foreign Affairs one day due to your natural diplomacy... do you feel you have lived up to your full potential in the Dáil?
I’m sure there are some who would disagree that I’m a natural diplomat but I’ll take the compliment regardless. They say all political careers end in failure – I’m still not sure if that’s right. There’s always going to be one more election you could fight or one more higher office you could hold. It’s human nature I suppose, but I’m leaving politics healthy, happy, with my family intact and I’ve managed to help many people along the way. I’d have taken that 22 years ago when I first started knocking on doors for my first election campaign.
If you could change anything about FG, what would it be?
I think the post-Covid era requires a restructuring of the organisation from grassroots up.
What will a Kerry FG candidate have to do to retain your seat?
Get their name out there, work hard to present a clear picture of how they’ll represent the people of Kerry in the Dáil and ensure a strong turnout of like-minded people in every polling booth.
Is Irish politics too male-dominated?
The overall figures are way behind where they need to be but there’s been some progress. It’s difficult to find women to run for politics, particularly young mothers to run for the Dáil in constituencies that far from Dublin. The degeneration of discourse brought about by social media isn’t helping.
What will you be doing after ceasing to be a TD?
I don’t know yet. I have nothing lined up. I’ve a few personal projects that I’d like to pursue too. Some people may know that I like to write in my spare time, I have a few novels and children’s novels written over the years that I might try to publish. Let’s see where the road takes us…
Who was Alan Dillon when you entered politics and who is Alan Dillon now?
As a new TD, first-time elected, this term has certainly been unprecedented, be it through the pandemic, the war in Europe, or the cost-of-living crisis and not forgetting the change of leadership within our own party. I haven’t changed in terms of my work ethic, commitment and focus for the job at hand, but certainly its profession is not like any other it is all consuming.
Is politics anything like football?
It is. It’s competitive, it’s dynamic and it’s ever-changing. The news cycle can be eventful in one day as it is in a week and you have to have the energy, the stamina and the resilience to respond to go again and to learn on your feet.
Describe your party’s past 13 years in power, particularly the last four after you gained your seat in 2020?
You have to remember the context in which the economic crisis hit. The construction sector was absolutely obliterated and we’re starting to build that sector back up and build capacity within it and it has been challenging.
I don’t think we rest on our laurels. More than ever we understand that more needs to be done and that we are a small open economy, which has seen the challenges of war, climate change and migration, and certainly we need to respond to those challenges. I think we can face these challenges in the future.
What has been your highest moment as a serving TD and your lowest?
Being elected as chair of the parliamentary party was a significant moment, questioning Ryan Tubridy at an Oireachtas committee and US president Joe Biden visiting Mayo.
The profession itself and the lack of tolerance to some for politicians, it’s something that we have to deal with on a on a continuous basis, be it outside the door or be it within our constituency, it’s not a profession for everyone. I learned that myself, you know, around Christmas time, and it can be challenging for some, and you just have to dust yourself down and get on with it and not let it affect you.
What’s your assessment of his time of renewal for Fine Gael with a new party leader?
It’s an opportunity to reset, to look at our policies and to map out the next five years for the party in terms of where we see Fine Gael taking this country. We have an unwavering commitment to the Irish people. If you look at the experience we have within our team, we have the competencies, the leadership in order to deliver on those commitments.
What was the biggest lesson you have learned in the Dáil?
Misinformation can cause concern and fear among the public and some opposition parties weaponize Dáil votes making them out to be something they are not.
Where do you go from here, you’re the chairman of the parliamentary party and a member of the Public Accounts Committee, do you want more?
You always strive. You have to have a level of ambition, in all walks of life, not just politics. My focus now is retaining my seat in Mayo. There is competition within parties in order to earn the trust of your party leader. I’ll continue to work hard if opportunities arise, I hope to capitalise on them. But it’s not an overall obsession of mine. It would be recognition after a job well done.
If you could change anything about Fine Gael what would it be?
I think we can do a lot more around our engagements with young people and being a party to compete with Sinn Féin for the 18-to-34 year old demographic and I think we need to start focusing our attention on the needs of students and young people and be seen as a as a viable alternative to those who you know are seen to be on their side.
Is Irish politics too male-dominated?
To a degree, yes, if you look at local councils or within the Dáil, but certainly there is progress being made in that regard and we do need to attract more females into the profession. But there are challenges within the profession that may not make it as attractive as it once was.
Will the party retain every seat of the 11 resigning TDs so far?
I think we have every opportunity. I think if you look at the track record of those who are retired, they have given immense service to the party. A bit like the position I was in in Mayo after Enda Kenny retired, it was a difficult challenge, but it was one that I was up for. I think that can be replicated.